Women's S&D Travels to Ohio Saturday for Dual of Unbeatens

MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State women's swimming & diving program returns to action Saturday for its final Mid-American Conference dual meet of the season at Ohio. Action in the pool begins at 2 p.m. at the Ohio University Aquatic Center.

The Cardinals enter the meet with a 4-0 dual record, including a 3-0 mark against fellow MAC programs. Last Saturday, BSU closed the home portion of its 2023-24 slate with a 182-117 victory over Toledo.

Ball State also won the 13-team IUPUI House of Champions Invite (Nov. 16-18) and placed second among 10 teams at the Indiana Intercollegiate (Oct. 21), only trailing host Purdue in the final score.

The Bobcats also come in with an unblemished record, going 6-0 in dual action, including a 3-0 record versus league opponents. Last time out, Ohio scored a 175-124 win at Buffalo (Jan. 20).

Fans unable to attend Saturday's meet can watch with live video on the Ohio YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiv9GmCDhUk

IN THE MAC RANKINGS:
In the latest NCAA Division I Top Time Rankings as compiled by CollegeSwimming.com, the Cardinals have nine student-athletes ranked in scoring position in their respective events heading into Saturday's dial with the Bobcats.

Leading the way are sophomore Payton Kelly who is first in the Mid-American Conference in the 50 freestyle with her program record time of 22.32 and freshman Kayla Newman who is second in the league in both the 1000 (10:10.05) and 1650 (15:50.07) freestyle.

Women's Swimmers Currently Ranked in the MAC Top 16
50 Freestyle: 1st - Payton Kelly (22.32)
100 Freestyle: 3rd - Payton Kelly (49.12)
200 Freestyle: 5th - Payton Kelly (1:48.24) / 15th - Kiran Stauffer (1:50.49)
500 Freestyle: 5th - Kiran Stauffer (4:54.01) / 8th - Kayla Newman (4:55.50)
1000 Freestyle: 2nd - Kayla Newman (10:10.05)/ 7th - Callie Tuma (10:20.47) / 13th - Marcella Ribeiro (10:23.99)
1650 Freestyle: 2nd- Kayla Newman (15:50.07) / 6th- Callie Tuma (17:03.19)
100 Backstroke: 7th - Hannah Jones (54.82) / 9th - Payton Kelly (54.91)
200 Backstroke: 10th - Lilia Newkirk (2:00.15)
100 Breaststroke: 3rd - Laura Wright (1:01.66)
200 Breaststroke: 6th - Laura Wright (2:15.47)
200 Butterfly: 4th - Alexa Von Holtz (2:00.06)
200 IM: 5th - Alexa Von Holtz (2:00.85)
400 IM: 7th - Alexa Von Holtz (4:21.75)
200 Freestyle Relay: 5th (1:33.08)
400 Freestyle Relay: 5th (3:23.14)
800 Freestyle Relay: 3rd (7:26.09)
200 Medley Relay: 5th (1:41.65)
400 Medley Relay: 5th (3:42.56)

FROM THE DIVING BOARDS:
Heading into the championship portion of the season, senior transfer Grace Walker leads the Cardinals on both diving boards with a 1M score of 286.28 and a 3M score of 286.20, both of which are NCAA Zone Diving qualifying marks.

Ball State Divers Top Results in 2023-24
Grace Walker  (Sr.) - 288.30* on 1M / 286.20* on 3M
Leelah Fettig (Fr.) - 227.40 on 1M / 233.93 on 3M
Ella Penny (Fr.) - 224.63 on 1M / 185.18 on 3M
Ava Pavich (Fr.) - 197.78 on 1M / 188.85 on 3M
Hannah Justice (So.) - 189.65 on 1M
* = NCAA Zone Diving Qualifying Score

MAC AWARD WINNERS:
Ball State has already claimed a pair of Mid-American Conference weekly awards this season, with sophomore freestyle sprint specialist Payton Kelly earning MAC Swimmer of the Week honors twice.

Award Winners:
10/25/2023 - Payton Kelly MAC Swimmer of the Week
11/8/2023 - Payton Kelly MAC Swimmer of the Week

EVENT WINNERS:
As a squad, the Cardinals have chalked up 49 individual event wins and 11 relay victories so far this season. Freshman Alexa Von Holtz leads the way with 13 individual event wins, while sophomore Payton Kelly is right behind with 12. Kelly has also had a hand in 10 of the relay wins, while Von Holtz has swam on three.

2023-24 Women's Individual Event Winners (49 Total)
13 - Alexa Von Holtz (Fr.)
   Oct. 28 at Buffalo - 100 Butterfly (56.42) / 200 Butterfly (2:02.98) / 200 IM (2:07.44)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - 200 Butterfly (2:05.42) / 400 IM (4:34.37)
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - 200 Butterfly (2:04.37) / 100 Butterfly (56.92) / 200 IM (2:07.15)
   Nov. 16 at House of Champions – 200 IM (2:00.85)
   Nov. 17 at House of Champions - 400 IM (4:21.75)
Nov. 28 at House of Champions - 200 Butterfly (2:00.06)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo - 200 Butterfly (2:03.10) / 200 IM (2:07.48)

12 - Payton Kelly (So.)
   Oct. 21 at Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate - 50 Freestyle (23.12) / 100 Freestyle (50.82)
   Oct. 28 at Buffalo - 50 Freestyle (23.05) / 100 Freestyle (50.58)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - 200 Freestyle (1:52.14) / 100 Freestyle (50.97)
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - 50 Freestyle (23.16) / 100 Freestyle (50.83)
   Nov. 16 at House of Champions - 50 Freestyle (22.32) (program record)
   Nov. 18 at House of Champions - 100 Freestyle (49.12) (program record)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo - 50 Freestyle (23.63) / 100 Freestyle (51.54)

9 - Laura Wright (Sr.)
   Oct. 21 at Dan Ross Indiana Intercollegiate - 100 Breaststroke (1:04.07)
   Oct. 28 at Buffalo - 100 Breaststroke (56.88) / 200 Breaststroke (2:19.98)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - 100 Breaststroke (1:04.57) / 200 Breaststroke (2:20.60)
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - 100 Breaststroke (1:05.06) / 200 Breaststroke (2:21.33)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo - 100 Breaststroke (1:04.02) / 200 Breaststroke (2:20.11)

4 - Marcella Ribeiro (Sr)
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - 200 Freestyle (1:54.22) / 500 Freestyle (5:05.86)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo - 100 Freestyle (10:33.94) / 500 Freestyle (5:13.37)

3 - Kayla Newman (Fr.)
   Oct. 28 at Buffalo - 500 Freestyle (5:04.58) / 1000 Freestyle (10:20.96)
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - 1000 Freestyle (10:24.44)

3 - Lilia Newkirk (Jr.)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - 100 Backstroke (57.58) / 200 Backstroke (2:06.02)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo 200 Backstroke (2:03.66)

3 - Grace Walker (Sr.)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - 3M Diving (275.25) / 1M Diving (286.28)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo - 1M Diving (288.30)

2 - Hannah Jones (Jr.)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - 50 Freestyle (24.89)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo - 100 Backstroke (57.06)

2023-24 Women's Relay Event Winners (11 Total)
4 - 200 Medley Relay
   Oct. 28 at Buffalo - Lilia Newkirk, Laura Wright, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly (1:44.60)
   Nov. 3 vs. IUPUI - Hannah Jones, Laura Wright, Eliza Bader, Payton Kelly (1:45.10)
   Nov 17 at House of Champions- Lilia Newkirk, Laura Wright, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly (1:41:65)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo - Lilia Newkirk, Laura Wright, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly (1:44.84)

4 - 400 Medley Relay
   Oct. 28 at Buffalo - Marcella Ribeiro, Kiran Stauffer, Haley Sakbun, Payton Kelly (3:26.82)
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - Lilia Newkirk, Laura Wright, Alexa Von Holtz, Payton Kelly (3:49.52)
   Nov. 16 at House of Campions - Hannah Jones, Laura Wright, Alexa Von Holt, Payton Kelly (3:42.56)
   Jan. 20 vs Toledo - Marcella Ribeiro, Haley Sakbun, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly (3:32.17)

1 - 200 Freestyle Relay
   Nov. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan - Natalie Marshall, Kiran Stauffer, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly (1:35.89)

1- 400 Freestyle Relay
   Nov. 18 at House of Champions - Kiran Stouffer, Haley Sakbun, Hannah Jones, Payton Kelly (3:23.14)

1- 800 Freestyle Relay
   Nov. 17 at House of Champions - Kiran Stouffer, Haley Sakbun, Alexa Von Holtz, Kayla Newman (7:26.09)

Women's S&D Travels to Ohio Saturday for Dual of Unbeatens

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Eliza Bader

Leelah Fettig

Hannah Jones

Hannah Justice

Payton Kelly

Lilia Newkirk

Kayla Newman

Ava Pavich

Ella Penny

Marcella Ribeiro

Haley Sakbun

Kiran Stauffer

Callie Tuma

Alexa Von Holtz

Grace Walker

Laura Wright